- The Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles game will be underway at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday.
- How do we navigate this tricky Showdown slate with starters likely getting pulled?
- Billy Ward breaks down the relevant DFS options using the FantasyLabs Tools, Projections, and Player Models.
NFL Week 18 features a Saturday showdown between the Cowboys and Eagles at 8:15 pm p.m. ET.
In this article, I’ll be using various FantasyLabs tools and other industry metrics to break down the slate.
And don’t forget to check out our Lineup Builder if you like to hand build your lineups or our Lineup Optimizer for those of you that like to enter multiple lineups into tournaments.
Motivation
Dallas Cowboys
This is an extremely difficult game to assess from a motivation standpoint. Dallas can theoretically climb as high as the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win, but they need a lot of (rather unlikely) help to get there. They’re fairly healthy presently (with the exception of losing Michael Gallup to a torn ACL), but both of their main running backs have been dinged up all year. That would suggest a pass-heavier game plan than normal in this one.
However, it wouldn’t be shocking if Dak Prescott wasn’t under center for all of it. The material benefit to moving up a spot or two in the seeding isn’t much for Dallas, and it’s a slim chance they do so even with a win. We could very easily see Dak (and the top receivers) pulled early from this one regardless of the score, but especially if the game gets out of hand in either direction.
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia has also clinched a playoff spot and will either be the No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NFC regardless of the outcome of this game. (The NFL’s old playoff format would’ve made Week 18 much more exciting in both conferences. They’re also dealing with a major – perfectly timed – COVID outbreak.)
That outbreak has removed Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and Dallas Goedert from the list of fantasy options if they can’t clear protocols. Additionally, running back Miles Sanders is ruled out with an injury. How the Eagles choose to attack on offense will be hard to predict here.
Further muddying the situation, starting center Jason Kelce is out with COVID. Starting right tackle Lane Johnson is questionable with a thumb injury. Philadelphia features a slightly above average pass-blocking unit at their best (16th in adjusted sack rate). However, Kelce has PFF’s third-highest grade among all centers, while Lane Johnson is the 13th ranked tackle. It could be dangerous to allow quarterback Jalen Hurts to play behind such a rough line. The Cowboys leading pass rusher (Micah Parsons) is also out with COVID this week, but it’s still a concern.
Scenarios
Instead of going player-by-player, we’re going to approach this game a bit differently. Let’s take a look at a few ways this game could play out while highlighting the DFS implications of each.
